Fulcrum

Chapter ten

"Yeah that's them," Liam answered. He had a feeling that Felicia wanted to go talk with them but he wasn't sure if that was safe. "But I wouldn't..." Before he could finish she had walked away from him. "Oh no." He said rushing off to follow her just in case things got hectic.
"I was this close to winning!" August complained. Everytime he thought he could get the eight ball in the hall, it didn't make it into the hole.
"You always say that and always lose," Stella answered giggling a bit. "Mom taught me all her tricks."

"Maybe you could learn some new ones," Felicia commented getting their attention. They both looked at her and she guessed they didn't recognize me. "Sorry I didn't mean to interrupt, my social skills aren't the best." Felicia couldn't resist the urge to approach Stella and August, despite her worries they might tell her to go away or not speak to her.
"Um we're not supposed to talk to strangers." August said.
"Auggie!" Stella scolded. August apologized but Felicia told him not to worry about it. "You look familiar do we know you?" Stella asked.

"Sort of let's just say I'm an old friend of your Dad's," Felicia answered. "You can call me Ashyla," she continued. "Now I'm no expert at pool but I have one trick that might work." She took one of the sticks from the rank and approached the pool table.
"Uncle Liam?" Stella asked unsure if this girl could be trusted. Call her crazy but she looked a lot like her mom, but that wasn't possible.
"Its alright Stella." Liam said.  He was being cautious himself but the more he interacted with Felicia the more he felt he could trust her. Maybe that's how his brother felt whenever he was around her.

August on the other hand was excited to see what excited to learn the trick Felicia was about to do. Sure enough she ended up surprising all three of them by not hitting the white ball but the table itself. It caused the white ball to jump up like it was alive but quickly dropped down and hit the eight ball. Instantly it rolled into one of the holes and Felicia smiled.
"Still got it." Felicia said to herself smiling.
"You play pool?" Stella asked.
"How did you do that?" August asked at the same time. Felicia laughed and said that she used to and her tricks were secret. "Aww so you can't teach me that." August complained.

"I never said that," Felicia answered. "It might help attract the ladies August," she blinked. "I better go promised your uncle I'd do him a favor." August was sad to see her go and Stella was a bit disappointed, but something else was on her mind. Something about that girl so familiar and she just couldn't put her finger on it. 
"Wow any chance I can ask for her number?" August asked.
"I wouldn't," Liam answered. "She has to lay low."

***

Felicia lived up to her promise and took the drive to her friend Jake. It said that it was heavily encrypted but he should be able to crack it in a few days.
"Thanks Jake I owe you one." she said with a bright smile.
"Of course its you," Jake answered. "You going out again?" He asked. She shook her head and said that tonight she was staying in to look after Asher.
"I finally got a decent meal for him, all thanks to the generosity of Geri," Felicia explained. "Plus I don't want him to see me the way I saw my mother."
"Oh come Felicia you don't have a thing to worry about, he adores you." Jake pointed out.

"Its Fulcrum and I know but I mean but when he gets older," Felicia answered. "Maybe I should consider looking for a job again," Jake reminded her that because of her criminal record that might be impossible. "I know but I don't want to keep falling down this path, I might lose myself."
"Felicia that's ridiculous," Jake said. "Other theives steal out of spite and for themselves but you do it for others."
"Maybe but the law doesn't see it that way," Felicia answered. "I'm tired I should get some rest." Jake grabbed her arm without thinking and she gave him a confused look. He turned red and let her go, he had always had a bit of a thing for her but she never noticed it.

"Sorry that was an accident," Jake said. She didn't like being touched by any man because of what happened throughout her childhood. Normally she would scream until whoever was touching let go or twist his arm to make him let go. But she was confused by the action since Jake was never one to show emotion. He was more closed off than she was, which was saying a lot. "Just didn't want you to feel you were alone."
"Thanks Jake you're a good friend." Felicia said. She left without saying another word leaving Jake a little heartbroken. But he didn't think any less of her and began looking through the drive like he said. It was strange that the only thing left was called project Ashyla.

Jake wondered what else Avis was hiding besides that he thrived off the suffering of others. He clicked on the file and began decoding, it wasn't easy since every step he took someone or something pushed him back two more.
"What are you playing at Avis?" He asked.

***

"Sir someone is trying to get their hands on the file!" Miles exclaimed as he ran down the hall with the laptop at top speed. Arthur avis was resting and didn't appreciate being awoken.
"Miles I swear I'm going to have your head for this!" Avis screamed. Miles gulped and said a million times that he was sorry but said that he urgent news. "What news?"
"Someone is attempting to hack into the file, if anyone cracks it they will see..." Miles is cut off by Avis speaking.

"Don't worry Warn the only thing that matters is that Walker doesn't see it," Avis said. "If he does it will ruin everything and I will never get that ungrateful brat out of way."
"Shall I despose of her sir?" Miles asked.
"No that will arise suspicion," Avis answered. "But I think I'll have to take more extreme measures, bring me the boy."